Videospiele spielen
To play video games in German is Videospiele spielen.
Depending on the setting, you might also use the informal term Daddeln or the slang term Zocken.
Which one should you use?
You can use zocken as a very common colloquial alternative specifically when referring to playing games or video games. If you are talking about playing a single video game rather than multiple games, use the singular Videospiel spielen.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase consists of the plural noun Videospiele (the plural of Videospiel) and the infinitive form of the verb spielen (to play).
Did you know?
- The word zocken has become so pervasive that it is used in German corporate contexts to describe 'gaming' a system or manipulating rules for an advantage.
- In Germany, if someone asks if you want to 'zocken', they might be inviting you to a high-stakes poker game rather than a round of video games, depending on the social context.
- The term daddeln often carries a slightly negative nuance, suggesting that someone is wasting their time or playing mindlessly, whereas zocken implies a more intense and focused passion.
Examples in context
- In meiner Freizeit spiele ich gerne Computerspiele.In my free time, I enjoy playing video games.
- Die Jugendlichen verbringen viel Zeit damit, Videospiele zu spielen.The teenagers spend a lot of time playing video games.
- Hast du Lust, heute Abend zusammen zu zocken?Do you want to play video games together tonight?
- Ich werde den Nachmittag damit verbringen, zu daddeln.I'm going to spend the afternoon playing video games.
- Ich spiele gerne Videospiele.I like playing video games.
- Ich möchte heute Abend Videospiele spielen.I want to play video games tonight.
- Meine Kinder wollen den ganzen Tag Videospiele spielen.My children want to play video games all day.
- Wir können zusammen Videospiele spielen.We can play video games together.
Example conversation
Julia and Maximilian are talking after school.
- JuliaHast du Lust, Videospiele spielen zu kommen?Do you feel like coming over to play video games?
- MaximilianJa, sehr gerne, Julia!Yes, I'd love to, Julia!
- JuliaWelche Videospiele spielen wir heute?Which video games are we playing today?
- MaximilianLass uns ein Rennspiel wählen, Maximilian.Let's pick a racing game, Maximilian.
